Former Parliament Speaker Joins Georgian Presidential Race

Georgian politician Nino Burjanadze

TBILISI -- Former Georgian parliament speaker Nino Burjanadze says she will run for the country's presidency in October.

Burjanadze made the announcement to journalists in Tbilisi on June 12 and said that the former governor of Samtskhe-Javakheti Province, Gigla Baramidze, will lead her campaign.

Burjanadze, 48, served as parliament speaker from November 2001 to June 2008.

In 2008, she established her own political party, Democratic Movement -United Georgia, which has opposed President Mikheil Saakashvili and his United National Movement party.

Burjanadze has served twice as Georgia's acting president.

The first time was from late 2003 to early 2004 in the wake of President Eduard Shevardnadze's resignation during the Rose Revolution.

The second time was from late 2007 to early 2008 when Saakashvili stepped down to run in early presidential elections.